For the year 2021, Space118 is once again delighted to extend its digital platform to the Final Year MFA students at the Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) of Baroda. The culmination of two intense years of studio practice in the disciplines of Painting, Sculpture, and Printmaking; the display marks a zenith in the journey of the young artistic practitioners; the works made, and the thoughts articulated.
Last year, the Faculty of Fine Arts had closed down the campus due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Faculty had also taken the decision to cancel the physical degree show. This year, as the previous one, has been anything but easy. And for the second time now, in the Faculty’s legacy, the degree show will be a solely digital experience.
In the light of the global pandemic and the lockdown that followed, the physical studio spaces were not accessible. From visiting each other’s studios to attending group discussions, there is more than the final display that the students are missing out on.
Space 118 is proud to support the students in this most unprecedented of times and continue its mission of building an ecosystem of support within the arts. A virtual exhibition as such is also significant, as it voices our responses to the unprecedented times we live in, where the idea is not only about adapting, but also learning and growing from these challenges. This is reflected in the resourceful body of works produced by the students despite having limited resources at hand.
In hosting the MSU Final Year student’s exhibition digitally, we are thrilled to recognize a plethora of artistic practices and nurture them from an early stage by providing a platform through which their works can reach newer and more expanded sets of audiences unhindered by borders. We endeavor to not only reach a large audience but also ensure that each student and their practice is well represented by the platform.
We extend our sincerest gratitude to Indrapramit Roy, Associate Professor of Painting, and Prof. Jayram Poduval, The Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU of Baroda, for leading this effort. We would also like to acknowledge the tireless efforts and patience of all students who assisted in putting this together: Anoushka Bhalla, Kanika Nagpal, Souro Chatterjee, Pankaj Sarma and a special mention to Naphisabiang Khongwir and Pahul Singh.
Warmly,
Saloni Doshi
Founder Patron, Space118
The march of the pandemic continues and the predicament of students, particularly the ones graduating, into a world ravaged by uncertainty is a serious concern. In the absence of access to the studio facilities, the mainstay of their learning, much of their time is spent online. It hardly requires emphasizing that it is not quite the ideal situation. The fact that despite the odds our students have come up with impressive bodies of work needs to be celebrated!
Like last year this year too we find Studio 118 stepping in to lend a helping hand to showcase the works of the young and aspiring artists. I cannot thank Saloni Doshi enough for providing us this platform and the support. The student volunteers (Pahul, Naphisabiang, Pankaj, Anoushka, Kanika, and Soura) along with the tech team of studio 118 (Bijal and Krutika) deserve to be mentioned for all the backend works.
I hope this online show will once again prove to the discerning audience that no pandemic, regardless of how severe or restrictive, can take away the creative spirit.
I wish all graduating students the very best!
Indrapramit Roy
Associate Professor, Faculty of Fine Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, (Faculty coordinator)
The Final year Annual Display along with Garba and Fine Arts Fair is one of the most anticipated events at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda. Apart from the students, parents and the art fraternity from all over India congregate at the Faculty at that time. It is a time for us, the teachers at the Faculty, to interact with our classmates, teachers, students, and friends in the field. This is crucial for the art students as in the future they would have to place their work in a gallery, public place, or even a private space. The display is also a stepping stone to their career as art professionals and the occasion gave them the introduction and interaction with their future colleagues and partners.
The days just before the display were busy, hustling, and fun for the students which can be understood from countless anecdotes each batch shares as Display stories. Unfortunately, the Pandemic has deprived us of all these aesthetic experiences and fun. For two years the campus wore the look of a long vacation, summer, winter, and monsoon all mixed up. Hot summer sun-deprived of the victims who rushed from one studio to the other finding convenient shadowed pathways. As the cliché goes “the show must go on”.
Thanks to Space 118 we have a venue to Display the final year students, Art Show. I would like to express my gratitude to Space 118 and Saloni Doshi for hosting this Virtual Display and giving the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts this opportunity.
All the very best to the Students and Space 118 from the fraternity of Faculty of Fine Arts.
Jayaram Poduval Ph.D
Dean [Offg.] Faculty of Fine Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
Click here to immerse yourself in the works, thinking, and artistic practices of the Final Year MFA students of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
With love and regards,
Team Space118